Control device mounting means and parts therefor

ABSTRACT

A control device having a cap telescoped through a mounting opening in a control panel and being secured thereto by a nut threaded on the cap and disposed against one side of the panel and a fastener carried by the cap and disposed against the other side of the panel, the fastener comprising a substantially flat plate spanning the opening of the panel and having a bayonet opening passing therethrough and aligned with the opening of the panel and the cap having a bayonet portion extending completely through the bayonet opening and cooperating with the bayonet opening to lock the cap and plate together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional patent application of its copendingparent patent application, Ser. No. 943,666 filed Sept. 18, 1978 nowU.S. Pat. No. 4,186,762.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an improved mounting means for a controldevice or the like and to improved parts of such mounting means.

2. Prior Art Statement

It is known to telescope a threaded cap of a control device through amounting opening in a control panel to be secured thereto by a nutthreaded on the cap and disposed against one side of the panel andfastening means carried by the cap and disposed against the other sideof the panel.

For example, see FIG. 1 of the drawings of this application wherein suchprior art structure is illustrated.

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the fastening means comprises anothernut threaded on the cap and being threaded against a washer-like dialmember also telescopically disposed on the cap to be sandwiched betweenthe fastening means and the control panel.

The U.S. patent to Drury, U.S. Pat. No. 2,689,700 discloses abayonet-type of fastening member for fastening an unthreaded cap of acontrol device in a key notch mounting opening in a control panel, thefastening member having means oriented in the key notch of the openingand having means oriented with orienting means of the cap whereby thecap is oriented with the key notch.

Other types of fastening means for mounting control devices to controlpanels have been provided and the U.S. patent to Owen, U.S. Pat. No.3,331,936 and U.S. patent to Frank, U.S. Pat. No. 3,371,180 are merelyillustrative of such other types of control device mounting means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a feature of this invention to provide improved means for mountinga control device to a control panel having a conventional mountingopening or the like provided therein.

In particular, it was found that the conventional means for mounting acontrol device to a control panel does not provide a convenient methodfor orienting the control device relative to the mounting hole in thepanel and additionally, if sufficient torque or vibration is applied tothe control device, the conventional mounting hardware might loosen,resulting in an assembly that could twist out of position for properorientation with a control dial for the control device.

Thus, it was found according to the teachings of this invention thatimproved mounting means can be provided for the free end of a controldevice cap that projects through the mounting opening of the controlpanel to be secured thereto, such improved mounting means of thisinvention comprising a uniquely formed mounting plate or member and auniquely formed end of the projecting cap of the control device.

In particular, one embodiment of this invention provides the combinationof a control device having a threaded cap telescoped through a mountingopening in a control panel and being secured thereto by a nut threadedon the cap and disposed against one side of the panel and means carriedby the cap and disposed against the other side of the panel, such meanscomprising a substantially flat plate spanning the opening of the paneland having a bayonet opening passing therethrough and aligned with theopening of the panel and the cap having a bayonet portion extendingcompletely through the bayonet opening cooperating with the bayonetopening to lock and cap and plate together in a quick connect anddisconnect manner.

It was also found according to the teachings of this invention that ifsuch uniquely formed plate also contained the dial face for the controldevice, a separate dial of the conventional control device mountingmeans can be eliminated.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedcontrol device mounting means, the mounting means of this inventionhaving one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forthabove or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for suchmounting means or the like, each improved part of this invention havingone or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth aboveor hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from areading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a prior artcontrol device mounting means.

FIG. 1A is a reduced fragmentary view illustrating the standardknock-out mounting hole provided in conventional control panels and thelike.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the improved controldevice mounting means of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the mounting means illustrated in FIG. 2 withthe control knob of the control device removed.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the control devicemounting means of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adapted to mount control deviceshaving control knobs thereon, it is to be understood that the variousfeatures of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combinationthereof to mount other types of control devices as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

It is believed that in order to best understand the unique features ofthis invention, a conventional prior art control device mounting meansshould be first described whereby reference is now made to FIG. 1wherein a prior art control device mounting means is generally indicatedby the reference numeral 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the prior art mounting means 10 comprises acontrol device 11 having a threaded cap 12 projecting through a standardsubstantially circular, knock-out mounting opening 13 formed in acontrol panel 14 and being secured thereto by a first nut 15 threaded onthe cap 12 and disposed against the side 16 of the control panel 14while another threaded nut 17 is threaded on the cap 12 and, in effect,is disposed against the other side 18 of the control panel 14. However,a suitable washer-like dial member or plate 19 is telescopicallydisposed on the cap 12 and against the side 18 of the control panel 14to be held thereagainst by the threaded member 17 as illustrated.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1A, the conventional circular opening 13 inthe control panel 14 joins with a key-notch 20 for holding the nut 17from turning in the opening 13.

In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the nut 17 has a reducedportion 21 that is received in the circular opening 13 against theinternal edge 22 thereof while a depending tongue portion 23 of the nut17 is received in the key notch 20 in a splinning manner therewith.

The cap 12 normally has a control shaft 24 projecting from the free end25 thereof and on which a control knob 26 can be mounted and fastenedthereto by a set screw 27 in a manner well known in the art, the end 25of the cap 12 having a projection 28 that cooperates with a slot means29 in a knob 26 to orient the knob 26 on the shaft 24 and limitrotational movement of the knob 26 and, thus, rotational movement of thecontrol shaft 24.

In this manner, by orienting the rotational position of the dial 19 withthe projection 28 on the cap 12, the control knob 26 can be orientedrelative to the markings on the dial 19 to guide the operator inproperly selecting the setting of the control device 11.

However, as previously described, there is no convenient means oforienting the control device 11 relative to the key notch 20 of themounting hole 13 so that when the control device 11 is assembled to thecontrol panel in the manner previously described, the member 28 could bedisposed in any rotational position relative to the notch 20 so that an"off" position of the control device 26 may be down, up or sidewaysrelative to the key notch 20 as the case may be.

Further, it is believed that if sufficient torque or vibration isapplied to the control device 11, the nut 17 can loosen to permit thecontrol device 11 to twist out of its rotational position relative tothe dial 19 to provide for a missetting of the control device 11.

These problems as well as others are believed to be solved by theimproved control device mounting means of this invention that isgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 10A in FIG. 2 and partsthereof similar to the prior art mounting means 10 are indicated by likereference numerals followed by the reference letter "A".

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the improved control device mounting means 10Aof this invention includes a control device 11A having a threaded cap12A carrying the nut 15A for being disposed against the side 16A of thecontrol panel 14A while the cap 12A projects through the mountingopening 13A in the manner previously described.

However, the end 25A of the cap 12A of this invention is provided with aquick connect-disconnect bayonet portion 30 that cooperates with a quickconnect-disconnect bayonet opening 31 in a unique mounting plate 32 ofthis invention that is disposed against the side 18A of the controlpanel 14A not only to lock the cap 12A to the plate 32, but also tosecure the control device 11A to the control panel 14A as illustratedwith the plate 32 positively orienting the cap 12A relative to the keynotch 20A of the mounting opening 13A in a manner hereinafter describedso that the control knob 26A and projection 28A of the cap 12A arealways properly oriented relative to the key notch 20A of the opening13A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the plate 32 of this invention can alsoprovide the dial means for the control device 11A so that the separatedial 19 of the prior art mounting means 10 is, in effect, eliminated bythis invention.

The plate 32 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 has a plurality of tabs 33bent therefrom to project from the side 34 thereof in such a circularpattern that the tabs 33 engage against the internal edge 22A of theopening 13A of the control panel 14A as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 toproperly position the plate 32 relative to the opening 13A while anadditional tab 35 of the plate 32 is positioned in the notch 20A asillustrated in FIG. 2 to properly orient the rotational position of theplate 32 relative to the opening 13A in the control panel 14A so thatthe dial figures on the plate 32 will be oriented relative to the keynotch 20A of the control panel 14A.

In addition, the plate 32 is provided with an orienting notch 36 thatintersects with the bayonet opening 31 thereof and is adapted to receivea cooperating tongue 37 of the bayonet portion 30 of the cap 12A thereinin the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 to orient the cap 12A and, thus, thecontrol device 11A relative to the key notch 20A of the control panel14A so that the stop member 28A thereof will be properly orientedrelative to the dial face of the plate 32 and, thus, the control knob26A will be properly oriented relative to the dial plate 32 for thereasons previously set forth.

The bayonet opening 31 of the plate 32 comprises a plurality of tongues38 that project radially into the opening 31 and are radially spacedapart in such a manner that the same define a plurality of equallyspaced spaces 39 therebetween, three such tongues 38 and spaces 39 beingillustrated for the embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings.

The bayonet portion 30 of the cap 12A of the control device 11A isprovided with a reduced cylindrical section 40 having a plurality ofoutwardly directed tongues 41 that are equally spaced about thecylindrical portion 40 and are a configuration similar to the spaces 39between the tongues 38 of the plate 32 whereby when the cap 12A is beingassembled to the plate 32, the tongues 41 of the cap 12A are adapted toproject through the spaces 39 of the plate 32 and once passingtherethrough, the control device 12A can be slightly rotated to bringthe tongues 41 of the cap 12A in overlapping relation with the tongues38 of the plate 32 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 to lock the plate32 and cap 12A together. Thereafter, the nut 15A can be run up andtightened on the cap 12A to compress against the side 16A of the controlpanel 14A to secure the control device 11A to the panel 14A.

Therefore, it can be seen that the mounting means 10A of this inventioncan be formed in a relatively simply manner by merely providing thebayonet portion 30 on the cap 12A of the control device 11A and formingthe bayonet opening 31 in a plate 32 to be assembled therewith in amanner now to be described.

When it is desired to assemble the control device 11A to the controlpanel 14A, the knob 26A is removed from the control shaft 24A and thenut 15A is rotated to back the same down the cap 12A toward the controldevice 11A so that a sufficient portion of the cap 12A can be projectedthrough the opening 13A of the control panel 14A from the side 16Athereof.

However, first, the plate 32 is disposed in the opening 13A by havingthe tabs 33 project into the opening 13A from the side 18A of the panel14A as well as having the locating tab 35 received in the key notch 20Aas illustrated in FIG. 2 so that the dial plate 32 will be disposedagainst the side 18A of the panel 14A in a proper rotational positionrelative thereto.

The assembler then holds the control device 11A so that the locatingtongue 37 on the cap 12A thereof will be disposed to project through oneof the spaces 39 of the plate 32 on either side of the locating notch 36of the plate 32 whereby the tongues 41 of the bayonet portion 30 of thecap 12A are projected through the spaces 39 of the plate 32 until thetongue 37 clears the plate 32 in such a manner that the assembler canrotate the control device 11A to bring the tongue 37 into registry withthe locating notch 36 of the plate 32. At this time, the assembler pullsbackwardly on the control device 11A to bring the tongue 37 into thenotch 36 as illustrated in FIG. 2 whereby the tongues 41 of the bayonetportion 30 of the cap 12A are brought against the tongues 38 of theplate 32 in overlapping relation therewith as illustrated in FIG. 3.With the control device 11A now held in this oriented position by thecooperating notch 36 and tongue 37, the nut 15A is rotated on the cap12A until the same abuts against the side 16A of the control panel 14Aas illustrated in FIG. 2 to thereby be tightened thereagainst andfastened the control device 11A in the assembled condition asillustrated in FIG. 2.

In this manner, it can be seen that not only is the bayonet portion 30of the cap 12A locked to the bayonet opening 31 of the plate 32 in aquick connect-disconnect relation therewith, but also the control device11A is properly oriented relative to the dial plate 32 through thecooperation of the plate tab 35 in the notch 20A of the mounting opening13A and the orientation of the locating tongue 37 of the cap 12A and thelocating notch 36 of the plate 32.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides animproved mounting means for a control device, but also this inventionprovides improved parts for such a mounting means or the like.

While the forms of the invention now preferred have been illustrated anddescribed as required by the Patent Statute, it is to be understood thatother forms can be utilized and still fall within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In the combination of a control device having athreaded cap telescoped through a conventional key notch mountingopening in a control panel and being secured thereto by a nut threadedon said cap and disposed against one side of said panel and fasteningmeans carried by said cap and disposed against the other side of saidpanel, the improvement wherein said fastening means spans said openingof said panel and has means oriented in said key notch, said cap havingorienting means, said fastening means having means oriented with saidorienting means of said cap whereby said cap is oriented with said keynotch, said means of said fastening means that are respectively orientedin said key notch and with said orienting means of said cap respectivelybeing disposed substantially intermediate said one side of said controlpanel and said fastening means, said fastening means comprising a singlemember, said means oriented in said key notch comprising a tab of saidmember disposed in said key notch, said means oriented with said capcomprising a locating notch in said member, said cap having a tabreceived in said locating notch to orient said cap relative to said keynotch.
 2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said memberprovides a dial face for said control device.
 3. A combination as setforth in claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a substantiallyflat plate having an opening passing therethrough and aligned with saidopening of said panel, said cap having a portion projecting through saidopening of said plate.
 4. A combination as set forth in claim 3 whereinsaid plate has a plurality of tabs extending from said plate andextending into said opening of said panel.
 5. A combination as set forthin claim 4 wherein said opening of said panel defines a substantiallycircular edge with said key notch intersecting with said edge, saidplate having one of said plurality of tabs disposed in said notch andthe other of said plurality of tabs engaging said edge whereby saidplurality of tabs orient said plate in said opening of said panel, saidone tab of said plurality of tabs defining said tab of said meansoriented in said key notch.
 6. A combination as set forth in claim 5wherein said plurality of tabs of said plate are all disposed outboardof said opening of said plate.
 7. A combination as set forth in claim 6wherein said notch of said fastening means that is oriented with saidorienting means of said cap intersects with said opening of said plate.8. In a fastening means for a combination of a control device having athreaded cap telescoped through a conventional key notch mountingopening in a control panel and being secured thereto by a nut threadedon said cap and disposed against one side of said panel and saidfastening means carried by said cap and disposed against the other sideof said panel, the improvement wherein said fastening means is adaptedto span said opening of said panel and has means adapted to be orientedin said key notch and has means adapted to be oriented with orientingmeans of said cap whereby said cap will be oriented with said key notch,said means of said fastening means that are respectively adapted to beoriented in said key notch and with said orienting means of said caprespectively being adapted to be disposed substantially intermediatesaid one side of said control panel and said fastening means, saidfastening means comprising a single member, said means adapted to beoriented in said key notch comprising a tab of said member adapted to bedisposed in said key notch, said means adapted to be oriented with saidcap comprising a locating notch in said member for receiving a tab ofsaid cap in said locating notch to orient said cap relative to said keynotch.
 9. A fastening means as set forth in claim 8 wherein said memberprovides a dial face for said control device.
 10. A fastening means asset forth in claim 8 wherein said fastening means comprises asubstantially flat plate having an opening passing therethrough andadapted to be aligned with said opening of said panel, said cap having aportion adapted to project through said opening of said plate.
 11. Afastening means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plate has aplurality of tabs extending from said plate and adapted to extend intosaid opening of said panel.
 12. A fastening means as set forth in claim11 wherein said opening of said panel defines a substantially circularedge with said key notch intersecting with said edge, said plate havingone of said plurality of tabs adapted to be disposed in said notch andthe other of said plurality of tabs adapted to engage said edge wherebysaid plurality of tabs are adapted to orient said plate in said openingof said panel, said one tab of said plurality of tabs defining said tabof said means adapted to be oriented in said key notch.
 13. A fasteningmeans as set forth in claim 12 wherein said plurality of tabs of saidplate are all disposed outboard of said opening of said plate.
 14. Afastening means as set forth in claim 13 wherein said notch of saidfastening means that is adapted to be oriented with said orienting meansof said cap intersects with said opening of said plate.